Iona MacDonald

The Highlands, United Kingdom

Journalist at Ross-shire Journal

Journalist at The Inverness Courier

Journalist at Highland News & Media

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Articles

Dingwall’s latest New Start Highland shop opens

1 day ago | ross-shirejournal.co.uk | Iona MacDonald

New Start Highland has expanded its retail footprint with the opening of a second shop in Dingwall, taking over the former M&Co premises on the High Street. Customers can now shop a wide selection of pre-loved furniture and homeware in the Highland town. The site will also be home to training operations, expanding the employability training New Start Highland offers from its base in Inverness.
Portmahomack 1700s luxury farmhouse hits market for £775,000

2 days ago | northern-times.co.uk | Iona MacDonald

AN 18th century Portmahomack farmhouse has hit the market — for £775,000. The B-listed Tarrel Farmhouse is set in approximately 5.7 acres of land on the Tarbat peninsula, and boasts panoramic views across Sutherland mountains as well as the Dornoch and Moray Firths. Featuring a unique curved exterior, a sauna, a hand-crafted solid oak staircase and original architectural details, Tarrel Farmhouse was renovated in 2000.
Portmahomack 1700s luxury farmhouse hits market for £775,000

2 days ago | ross-shirejournal.co.uk | Iona MacDonald

AN 18th century Portmahomack farmhouse has hit the market — for £775,000. The B-listed Tarrel Farmhouse is set in approximately 5.7 acres of land on the Tarbat peninsula, and boasts panoramic views across Sutherland mountains as well as the Dornoch and Moray Firths. Featuring a unique curved exterior, a sauna, a hand-crafted solid oak staircase and original architectural details, Tarrel Farmhouse was renovated in 2000.
Highland Council wins prestigious award for ‘energy efficiency’

3 days ago | inverness-courier.co.uk | Iona MacDonald

HIGHLAND Council saw off fierce opposition from the rest of the country to take a top prize at the Scotland Energy Efficiency Awards. In addition to the Local Authority/Council of the Year award, it was highly commended in the Landlord/Housing Association of the Year category. There were 13 categories up for grabs at the awards ceremony at Crowne Plaza, Glasgow, attended by individuals and companies throughout Scotland that are involved in the energy efficiency industry.
A96 overnight surfacing improvements near Inverness Airport to begin this week

3 days ago | inverness-courier.co.uk | Iona MacDonald

A96 overnight surfacing improvements near Inverness Airport are set to begin later this month. The £565,000 scheme, which engineering consultant Amey is undertaking on behalf of Transport Scotland, will resurface approximately 1000 metres of the A96 carriageway from June 29 to July 12. Work will take place between Drumine and 910 metres east of Culblair Farm.
Dingwall rallying calls ahead of 800th birthday

3 days ago | ross-shirejournal.co.uk | Iona MacDonald

A GRIM assessment of Ross-shire’s county town following the shock revelation of a cannabis factory on its High Street has prompted a rallying call ahead of its 800th birthday. Gloomy pictures of the royal burgh’s High Street circulated widely after last week’s raid, which resulted in the arrest of two men, prompted a frenzy of negative social media comment with many claiming it had “gone downhill” and some characterising it as “a dump”.
A9 Tomatin to Moy overnight disruption planned for July

3 days ago | inverness-courier.co.uk | Iona MacDonald

TEMPORARY overnight traffic lights and a convoy system are set to be introduced on the A9 between Moy and Tomatin for five weeks, beginning in July. Road users are advised that for 5 weeks, beginning July 7, overnight temporary traffic lights and a convoy system will be introduced on the A9 at various locations between Moy rail bridge and the start of the existing dual carriageway.
Moment Scots woman caught seagull sneaking into flat to steal packet of nuts

3 days ago | dailyrecord.co.uk | Iona MacDonald |John-Paul Clark

Cheryl Andrew caught the incident on camera at her flat. The comical moment a cheeky seagull broke into a flat to steal a packet of nuts was caught on camera. Cheryl Andrew, 45, had been staying in a flat in Ullapool, in the Scottish Highlands, for work when the hungry visitor joined her last Thursday, June 19. Footage shows the mischievous bird sneaking in through the open window before knocking items off the windowsill in a frantic bid to escape with its loot of pine nuts.
Ullapool’s RuMac make appearance in 28 Years Later film

4 days ago | northern-times.co.uk | Iona MacDonald

BRITAIN’s Got Talent sensation, RuMac, has revealed that he is making an appearance in the new 28 Years Later film. Ruairidh Maclean from Ullapool, who performs as RuMac, made it to the semi-finals of this year’s Britain’s Got Talent TV competition. Since then, he has gone on to play at multiple events and festivals, including Highland News and Media’s Highland Heroes. But his latest gig has seen him appearing in the highly-anticipated third instalment of the acclaimed 28 Days Later film series.
Ullapool’s first harbour seal pup of the season arrives

4 days ago | northern-times.co.uk | Iona MacDonald

Published: 06:58, 24 June 2025 ULLAPOOL’s first harbour seal pup of the season has arrived and “looks to be doing well”. On the morning of June 16, local boat tour Shearwater Cruises spotted the first harbour seal pup of the year, situated in a quiet spot. The cruise operator said: “Mum had found a quiet spot away from the others and will hopefully return to the haul-out sites once the pup is up for it. Looks to be doing well and was feeding as we passed.

Journalists covering the same region

Hector Mackenzie

Editor at Ross-shire Journal

Hector Mackenzie primarily covers news in the Scottish Highlands region, including areas around Inverness and surrounding communities, United Kingdom.